Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre
Jazz and beautiful boating on the Erdre
About Rendez-vous de l'Erdre
Created in 1986 by the City of Nantes, the Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre festival is one of the largest jazz festivals in France and an exceptional nautical gathering. Every year, at the end of August, for a week, over 150,000 spectators come to discover the vitality of today's jazz through 120 completely free open-air concerts in public spaces. The festival unfolds in Nantes and fourteen other towns in Loire-Atlantique, along 86 kilometers of the Erdre and the Nantes-Brest canal. In parallel, nearly 150 crews of heritage boats, some of which are classified as Historical Monuments, converge on Nantes to form a unique gathering of beautiful boating in France on a navigable waterway. Organized by the Association culturelle de l'été (ACE), the festival combines artistic excellence, accessibility, and the enhancement of Nantes's river heritage.
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Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre: Jazz and River Heritage in Nantes
Since 1987, at the end of each summer, the banks of the Erdre have vibrated to the rhythm of jazz. Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre were born from a dual ambition: to celebrate Nantes's jazz tradition—a city that hosted the very first jazz concert in Europe on February 12, 1918, at the Théâtre Graslin—and to revive the heritage of beautiful boating on one of France's most beautiful rivers.
A Festival Rooted in Nantes's History
In 1986, the City of Nantes organized a festive event to inaugurate the Île de Versailles and the quays of the Erdre. The festival then took a strong direction, drawing on the roots of Nantes's history: pleasure boating and jazz. The project revived the memory of the Erdre as a place for leisure, regattas, and guinguettes in the early 20th century, and perpetuated the jazz tradition that arrived in Nantes in 1918.
120 Free Open-Air Concerts
The programming explores all the aesthetics of jazz and today's improvised music: contemporary jazz, blues, soul, funk, brass bands, world music, and experimental creations. Approximately 400 local, national, and international artists perform each year on open-air stages scattered across fifteen towns in Loire-Atlantique, from Guenrouët to Nantes, along the 86 kilometers of the Erdre and the Nantes-Brest canal.
The festival hosts both major names in European and international jazz, as well as emerging artists and bands from the regional scene, with about 50% of the artists coming from the local and regional scene.
A Unique Nautical Gathering
In parallel with the concerts, nearly 150 to 200 heritage boats—traditional sailboats, dinghies, skiffs, some classified as Historical Monuments—converge on Nantes with about 600 crew members from all over France and beyond. This gathering of beautiful boating constitutes an unparalleled concentration of traditional boats in France on an inland waterway.
A Popular and Committed Festival
Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre claim a clear positioning: a completely free festival, accessible to everyone, without compromising artistic excellence. The event is a moment of conviviality, musical discovery, and encounters along the water, in a festive and family-friendly atmosphere that brings together over 150,000 people each year.
Rendez-vous de l'Erdre — edition 2026
Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre celebrates its 40th anniversary from August 24 to 30, 2026. For this exceptional edition, the festival will offer 120 free concerts and a grand heritage nautical gathering, with unprecedented projects to mark four decades of jazz and beautiful boating on the Erdre.
40th Edition — Forty Years of Jazz and Beautiful Boating
The year 2026 marks a historic milestone for Les Rendez-vous de l'Erdre: the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. From August 24 to 30, 2026, Nantes and fourteen partner towns in Loire-Atlantique will host this exceptional anniversary edition, between jazz and nautical heritage.
As every year, 120 completely free concerts will be offered, featuring approximately 400 local, national, and international artists. The programming will explore the multiple aesthetics of jazz and today's improvised music, true to the spirit of openness and artistic excellence that has characterized the festival since its origins.
Unprecedented Projects for the 40th Anniversary
To celebrate this anniversary, two emblematic projects are announced:
- Creation of a new nautical stage, strengthening the unique link between music and river heritage that defines the festival's identity.
- Grand participatory brass band: a large-scale project involving professional and amateur musicians for a festive and unifying moment.
The beautiful boating gathering will once again bring together between 150 and 200 heritage boats and about 600 crew members, creating a unique spectacle on the waters of the Erdre.
The full program will be unveiled in the spring of 2026 on the festival's official website.
Programme Rendez-vous de l'Erdre 2026
2026 Program
The artistic program for the 40th edition will be announced in the spring of 2026. As every year, the festival will offer:
- 120 free concerts in 15 towns in Loire-Atlantique
- Approximately 400 artists, local, national, and international
- All jazz aesthetics: contemporary jazz, blues, soul, funk, brass bands, world music
- Beautiful boating gathering with 150 to 200 heritage boats
Special 40th Anniversary Projects
- New nautical stage
- Grand participatory brass band
Highlights Rendez-vous de l'Erdre 2026
To Note for 2026
- 40th anniversary of the festival
- Dates: Monday, August 24 to Sunday, August 30, 2026
- 120 free concerts in 15 towns
- Creation of a new nautical stage for the occasion
- Grand participatory brass band open to all
- 150 to 200 heritage boats expected
- Full program to be announced in spring 2026
Prices Rendez-vous de l'Erdre 2026
Practical information — Rendez-vous de l'Erdre
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Nantes is accessible via the A11 motorway (from Paris), the A83 (from Niort/Bordeaux), and the A844/N844 (from Saint-Nazaire). The main stages are located along the Erdre, in the city center of Nantes (Île de Versailles, Quai de Versailles, Quai Henri-Barbusse).
By train: Nantes station is served by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse (approx. 2h15), Lyon, Lille, and Strasbourg. From the station, tram lines 2 or 3 allow you to reach the festival sites in a few minutes.
By public transport: The TAN network serves the various festival sites in Nantes. Tram line 2 and several bus lines provide access to the Erdre quays. For partner towns (Nort-sur-Erdre, Sucé-sur-Erdre, Carquefou, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre), Aléop transport lines are available.
Festival Venues in Nantes
Concerts in Nantes primarily take place on the quays of the Erdre: the nautical stage, the Sully stage, and various open-air cultural spaces, around the Île de Versailles and along the banks.
Pricing
All concerts and activities are completely free, with open access. No tickets are required.
Accessibility
The festival is accessible to people with reduced mobility. The open-air sites are equipped to welcome all audiences. For any specific requests, contact the organization via the official website.
Practical Tips
- The festival takes place entirely outdoors: bring sunscreen and rain gear.
- Food and drink stands are available at the main sites.
- Arrive early for the most anticipated concerts, as access is free within the limit of available places.
- Consult the detailed program on the official website for the exact times and locations of each concert.
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Rendez-vous de l'Erdre
Quais de l'Erdre et île de Versailles
10 allée Duquesne, 44000 Nantes